There are a lot of problems at Newcastle United right now.
While the takeover has offered renewed hope for supporters, it has also put a huge spotlight on the issues that are holding the club back.
The new owners want to rectify these problems, but Rome wasn’t built in a day as they say…
We need a new manager, a director of football or sporting director, improvements to the training ground…pretty much everything needs improving.
The biggest issue right now is on the pitch. Newcastle are 19th in the Premier League after 10 games, already six points adrift of safety.
Steve Bruce couldn’t get a tune out of the players, and it looks like Graeme Jones is struggling as well.
Newcastle have started playing 3-5-2 once again since Jones became interim boss, with multiple popular players sitting on the bench.
And when you analyse Newcastle’s substitutes, it’s frightening how much money is being wasted.
In total, Newcastle’s nine substitutes against Chelsea had a combined value of £142million.
The three most expensive players in the club’s history all sat on the bench, with Joelinton not even getting on the pitch.
£15million Jamal Lewis was also an unused substitute, unable to oust the out of form Matt Ritchie from the starting XI.
It’s madness that our bench on Saturday was worth more than our starting XI. Does it hint at bad management or bad investments?
Probably both. Joelinton cost far too much money, while Joe Willock was arguably overpriced as well. As for Lewis and Miguel Almiron, the pair are being wasted at St James’ Park.
Under new ownership, recruitment massively needs to improve. Players must be fit for purpose and fit the system. Alternatively, the new manager needs to get more out of players who rightly or wrongly cost a lot of money.
The fact that £142million worth of talent is sitting on the bench while a starting XI including five players from the Championship season doesn’t even try to lay a glove on Chelsea is laughable.
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